Nampa Home Decor Store Graples Thrives in Idaho’s Sugar District More Than 20 Years After Starting in a Garage
NAMPA, Idaho — A small home decor business in Nampa’s Sugar District has grown from a one-day-a-week garage sale into a thriving local destination, offering Canyon County families affordable, hand-picked home furnishings more than two decades after its humble beginnings. Graples, owned by husband and wife Mary Ann and Brian Toone, stands as one of the Treasure Valley’s quiet success stories — built on a simple idea, family values, and a commitment to the community it serves.
From a Nampa Garage to a Sugar District Staple
The story of Graples begins in 2005, when Mary Ann Toone finished building a new home and set out to decorate it. Unable to find pieces she liked at a price that worked, she took matters into her own hands.
“I started selling stuff out of my garage at first, and then it became a thing,” Mary Ann Toone said. “But I was a stay-at-home mom, and I wanted to have that be my priority. So I got a little teeny shop and started selling out of there just one day a week.”
That single day a week was enough to spark something bigger. Word spread throughout Nampa and the broader Canyon County area, and what began as a side venture for a stay-at-home mother gradually took shape as a full-fledged small business rooted in the free enterprise spirit that defines so much of Idaho’s entrepreneurial culture.
Today, Graples operates out of a storefront in Nampa’s Sugar District, open on Thursdays and Saturdays. The limited schedule is not a sign of a struggling business — quite the opposite. The Toones spend the rest of the week restocking, because the shop moves roughly 40 to 50 percent of its entire inventory every single week.
A Personal Touch That Sets Graples Apart
In an era dominated by big-box retailers and national chains — including newer arrivals like Dutch Bros Coffee, which recently marked 20 years in Canyon County — Graples has carved out a loyal customer base by doing things differently. The Toones personally select and arrange every item in the store, giving the shop a curated, boutique feel that customers cannot replicate by scrolling through an online catalog.
“We like to hand-pick out and design what we want to do in the store and where we want to do it,” Brian Toone explained. “So it’s a lot more personal. And we try and listen to our customers if they have certain things they’re looking for — we’ll go out and try and find those things for them.”
That customer-first philosophy has kept Nampa residents coming back season after season. Shoppers looking for something specific can follow Graples on social media, where the Toones also post information about pop-up locations throughout the area.
Impact on Canyon County’s Small Business Community
Graples represents the kind of locally owned, family-run enterprise that has long been the backbone of Canyon County’s economy. With Nampa continuing to grow as one of the fastest-expanding cities in Idaho, the Sugar District has emerged as a hub for independent businesses offering something different from the sprawling commercial corridors along the Treasure Valley’s major highways.
As Canyon County families navigate rising costs of living, the store’s founding mission — providing attractive home decor at prices that actually work for working families — remains as relevant today as it was when Mary Ann Toone first opened her garage doors two decades ago. With spring bringing new energy to the region — from events at Lake Lowell, which opened for boating this April, to community activities across Nampa and Caldwell — local businesses like Graples benefit from increased foot traffic and community engagement in warmer months.
What Comes Next for Graples
The Toones show no signs of slowing down. With consistent weekly sell-through rates and a devoted customer following built over more than 20 years, Graples has proven that a business built on personal attention, quality curation, and community connection can not only survive in a competitive market — it can thrive.
Shoppers interested in visiting Graples can find current store hours, inventory updates, and pop-up event locations through the store’s social media pages. The shop is located in Nampa’s Sugar District and is open on Thursdays and Saturdays.
For more business news and community coverage across Canyon County and the Treasure Valley, visit Idaho News.